Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Wednesday, Dec 9, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Some of you are heading to the Chicago “Fedstivus” party tonight to commemorate the Blagojevich arrest. I thought about hosting my own party, but, frankly, this is one depressing anniversary. I think I’ll just stay home and listen to some tunes, starting with this fine, but melancholic jam from Traffic and Jerry Garcia…

Do anything, take us out of this gloom

16 Comments

Rate Giannoulias’ new ad, rate Dillard’s new plan

Wednesday, Dec 9, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Democratic US Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias is now running a second TV ad which builds on his first one. The new ad is called “Details.” Let’s rate the new one….

* Meanwhile, Sen. Kirk Dillard has issued a pretty detailed and interesting white paper on economic development. Step one, the budget…

Spending will be capped at Fiscal 2010 levels for the foreseeable future. […] The Dillard Administration will utilize zero-based budgeting and embark on a process to rebuild state government from the ground up.

He takes a look at lots of different things, including health care…

While we wait for the outcome on the national debate on health care reform, Illinois will create a pilot program designed to encourage a small businesses and sole proprietors to pool their employees into larger groups, remove certain coverage mandates, and allow health maintenance organizations to place reasonable deductible costs on their policies.

Manufacturing modernization…

The Illinois Modernization & Retooling Program will be reinstated to assist Manufacturers in making necessary reinvestments in their facilities to enable for them to remain competitive and keep there existing workforce in Illinois.

Tax incentives…

Examples include a tax credit for new jobs created, a sales tax holiday to spur retail sales and a letter of credit program to allow projects to proceed and create jobs.

Dillard also talks the talk on education to the point where people like Mayor Daley might be OK with him…

The Dillard Administration will continue to invest in Early Childhood education and commit resources to training our workers to compete in the 21st Century global economy. Illinois needs to set high standards for all children regardless of where they live and then provide the necessary tools to teachers, administrators, school boards and parents so that they can succeed at the local level without unnecessary government interference. The state will renew its commitment to make sure that every child can attend school safe from violence and prepared to learn. And we will focus on stemming performance erosion in the vital middle grades.

Some of it is insidery, but important. For instance, organized labor will work much harder to defeat a Republican who refuses to abide by the legislative “agreed bill process” for workers’ comp and unemployment insurance. Dillard tries to set their minds at ease…

Kirk Dillard strongly believes in maintaining the sanctity of the agreed-bill process. Recognizing that the process often only promotes communication when stakes are high and stances are far apart, Dillard will form on ad-hoc basis the Illinois Jobs Creation Council. The Council’s goal will be to seek areas of common-ground interest to promote creative ideas on the creation of jobs—something that benefits both sides. It is Dillard’s belief that finding those common areas of interest will spur better and more innovative ideas on attracting and keeping good-paying jobs in Illinois.

Go check it out.

48 Comments

Arrestoversary roundup

Wednesday, Dec 9, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Of all the “arrestoversary” stories today, this one truly takes the cake…

As he marked the anniversary of his arrest, ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich today reasserted his innocence by autographing a copy of the U.S. Constitution with his now-infamous catchphrase, “fn golden.”

The indicted politician scrawled the near-profanity on the nation’s most sacred of documents at a book signing on the University of Chicago campus. A student asked Blagojevich to sign near the 17th Amendment — the one dealing with the appointment of U.S. senators. In other words, the very type of seat that federal prosecutors say Blagojevich tried to sell and was allegedly heard describing as “(bleeping) golden” on a wiretap.

“Always remember the rule of law is sacrosanct, nay it is more — it is fn golden,” Blagojevich wrote on the page today. […]

“I’m OK with writing it,” he told reporters. “I did not write the bad word. I abbreviated it.”

What a freaking clown he is.

But this is the quote of the day…

Student Richard Ruiz said [of Blagojevich], “I’m sure, personally, he’s a swell guy. Politically, I am kind of terrified of him.”

Ruiz just nailed it. I should hire him as an intern.

* The Sun-Times misses the point…

When other states get hit with massive, nationally embarrassing corruption scandals, political leaders upend the status quo, throw the bums out and do their level best to ensure it can’t happen again.

In Illinois, state lawmakers have tweaked and twiddled on reform measures, in hopes voters forget what they’re mad about.

Um, they did throw the bum out. Remember that impeachment thingy? Also, as Charlie Wheeler wrote several weeks ago in Illinois Issues, most of the reforms that were approved by the General Assembly focused like a laser on Blagojevich’s many, many transgressions…

Overall, the legislative reaction to the reform suggestions followed the pattern predicted here a couple of months ago. Changes affecting executive branch operations were embraced; those that would upset the legislative status quo were not.

In so choosing, did Democratic leaders and their majorities sustain a culture of corruption? Or was that the rational approach, focusing on eradicating the opportunities for clearly documented illicit activities while ignoring certain aspects of the legislative process that some might not like but are hardly corrupt?

Instead of bemoaning what didn’t happen, naysayers might want to look again and see a glass that’s got more in it than anyone would have believed possible this time last year.

Weakening the legislative leaders is a noble cause, and should be done. But, in this context, would a weak House Speaker have been able to stand in Blagojevich’s way for two years, as Michael Madigan did?

* And despite all the “woe is us” editorials across the state today, the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform tries to point out the positives in the reform bills today…

The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform (ICPR) on Wednesday said the campaign contribution limits legislation signed by Gov. Quinn is a significant victory for Illinois voters and should help reduce the influence wielded by big campaign contributors.

Gov. Quinn, by the way, has a new video where he talks about the past year. Take a look…

Illinois GOP Chairman Pat Brady responds…

“Today Governor Quinn will sign into law legislation claiming to be a significant victory for ethics reform in the State of Illinois. However, the reality is quite different. Notwithstanding the laudable efforts by numerous citizen reform groups, the legislation does nothing more than enhance the power of those who supported Rod Blagojevich. Notably absent from today’s bill signing is any legislation recommended by Governor Quinn’s Reform Committee Task Force.”

* And now for something a little different…

[US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald] not only went after Blagojevich, satisfying the growing political Machine in Illinois that wanted him to leave, but also check-mated Obama. How could Obama replace Fitzgerald in the wake of his taking action against Blagojevich over Obama’s old senate seat without looking like he was protecting “corruption” in Illinois?

Never mind that what Fitzgerald did was wrong. People are innocent until proven guilty in America, but not in Fitzgerald’s eyes. And, there is a process of prosecution that Fitzgerald side-stepped and avoided in going after Blagojevich to protect his own political career in Illinois. Instead of filing charges, Fitzgerald used the Chicago FBI to arrest Blagojevich one year ago at his home not on charges but on trumped up claims thatw ere not backed by evidence at all.

Imagine if the US Attorney can do that anytime he doesn’t like someone? Accuse them of a crime, disgrace them publicly? Say things to disparage someone you don’t like and set up a political movement to have him removed from office and never, ever have to provide one real bit of fair evidence in a court room where the target, Blagojevich, can defend himself?

Whew.

* Related…

* One year later - The movie

* Quinn to OK Campaign Cash Limits

* High court shows doubts about law used against Blago, Ryan, Black

* Court Looks Askance At Fraud Law

* Supreme Court seems wary of law used to convict Ryan, Black

* Just for U of C students: Blago signs books ‘f’n golden’

* Blagojevich anniversary: First reactions to the arrest.

* Blagojevich arrest one year ago was ’sad day for government’

* Blagojevich’s arrest sent shockwaves through state

* This paper tiger won’t cut it for long

* One year later, Blagojevich investigation moves slowly to trial

* Illinois marks strange year since governor’s arrest

* Too little change since Blago’s arrest

* Illinois remains adrift one year after Blagojevich

* Waves from former governor’s ouster still rippling

* Q&A: Blagojevich’s arrest one year later

* One year later Blago’s gone, but problems remain

* Feds want a conviction, Any conviction

23 Comments

A big oops and Quinn vs. Hynes gets even testier

Wednesday, Dec 9, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Not good timing, considering the Blagojevich “arrestoversary” and Gov. Quinn’s planned signing of the campaign reform bill today. But this does appear to be an innocent mistake…

The campaign of Gov. Pat Quinn has temporarily halted making automated campaign calls after it came to light that some were going to state office telephones.

The calls to those telephones were inadvertent, said Quinn campaign spokeswoman Elizabeth Austin.

“Apparently some of those calls went to offices because people had used their office numbers instead of their home numbers when they registered to vote,” Austin said, and the automated calls were going to numbers listed on voter registration records.

The calls were stopped as soon as the problem was identified, according to the campaign.

* The video isn’t posted as I write this, but I’m told Gov. Quinn and Comptroller Hynes got more than a little testy with each other during their “debate” before the Tribune editorial board. I’ll post the video when the Trib does.

The governor did a pretty good job of spinning the AFL-CIO’s refusal to endorse in the race, especially considering the audience…

Quinn said the state’s current pension benefits are “far beyond reasonable” and slammed Hynes for failing to support a so-called “two-tier” pension system as both court unions for endorsements.

“I have the courage to tell the unions I am for a two-tier system. That cost me politically and I know that,” Quinn said. Hynes said he doesn’t believe the current basic pension benefits are extravagant, and he called them important for attracting a qualified work force.

As good as those lines were, Quinn will need those unions in the general election, so he shouldn’t go too far with this.

This is just bogus, however, and there should be more push-back against Quinn…

“We’re in a political contest, there should be robust contest there, robust contest of ideas,” Quinn said. “But to take this [short-term borrowing] issue and politicize it, and he has politicized it, is wrong.”

But Hynes said the state can no longer afford to borrow its way out of the fiscal mess, noting Moody’s Investors Service cited a lack of political willpower to fix the deficit when it downgraded the state’s bond rating Tuesday.

The person who really politicized this issue is Quinn. This was a carefully planned political assault and Quinn goofed by pulling the trigger too soon. If he had waited until Treasurer Giannoulias was on board, the attack on Hynes would’ve been devastating. Instead, the governor looks like a mope.

And you knew this was coming…

“They received 21 letters complaining about that [Burr Oak] cemetery and [the comptroller] failed to properly act,” Quinn said, adding he pushed pending legislation to take cemetery regulation away from Hynes’ office because “it did a lousy job.”

As I’ve written before, if Hynes really closes the gap on Quinn I fully expect a nuclear Burr Oak attack.

* Charles Thomas writes about an interesting little development in the campaign…

A sign that Quinn has lost his campaign balance happened [Monday], when the Governor missed the grand opening of a shelter for homeless veterans on the city’s southside. He stood up former Illinois and now-Federal Veterans Affairs honcho Tammy Duckworth who flew in from Washington for the ceremony.

Quinn, perhaps the hardest-working advocate for veterans you’ll find anywhere in politics, was a no-show because he was held over by west side African-American elected officials who had just endorsed him.

Sources say the black pols had the Governor cornered demanding specifics on minority participation in the $31 billion capital bill Quinn signed last summer. The conventional wisdom is that Quinn cannot win the February 2, 2010 primary without the overwhelming support of African American voters.

* Today’s campaign video is, once again, from Gov. Quinn. It’s about the governor’s endorsement by several West Side politicians. Have a look…

20 Comments

One year later - The movie

Wednesday, Dec 9, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I spent way too much time putting this little video together. It’s definitely not the slickest thing you’ll ever see, but I wanted to do something different for the one-year anniversary of Rod Blagojevich’s arrest. Plus, I need the editing practice. Be gentle, please. Have a look…

47 Comments

Rate Bill Brady’s first ad

Tuesday, Dec 8, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Republican gubernatorial candidate Sen. Bill Brady begins running his first TV ad today. I’m not sure yet how many points are behind it. But, let’s go ahead and rate it…

51 Comments

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